In a devastating incident off the Brazilian coast known as the Devil’s Throat, two influencers, Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim, 37, and Beatriz Tavares da Silva Faria, 27, lost their lives after their boat capsized. The accident occurred nearly a month ago, on September 29, when their overloaded vessel, returning from a yacht party, was hit by a massive wave and sank.
According to Sao Vincente police commissioner Marcos Alexandre Alfino, the influencers were among a group that had declined to wear life jackets, prioritizing their appearance in selfies over safety. Commissioner Alfino noted, “Some didn’t want to put them on because they were taking selfies. They said that they get in the way of their tanning.”
The boat, reportedly exceeding its capacity of five passengers by one, was navigated by a skipper who survived the ordeal along with four others. Despite his efforts to save all aboard, the vessel was overwhelmed by the wave due to its excess load.
Beatriz’s body was the first to be discovered, adrift at sea, and was retrieved by Brazil’s Maritime Firefighters. A week later, Aline’s body was found washed ashore at Itaquitanduva Beach.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities determining whether the deaths were due to negligence or mere accident. “All this is being determined very calmly to conclude if the fatalities were based on recklessness or negligence,” Alfino added.
Aline, a mother of one who couldn’t swim, had shared her last moments on social media, posing in a bikini aboard the boat. Beatriz, a former model and CrossFit trainer, also left behind a community in mourning.
Survivor accounts paint a chaotic scene. Vanessa Audrey da Silva, one of the survivors, described fighting for her life in the water, managing to secure a life jacket and cling to rocks. Another survivor, Camila Alves de Carvalho, recounted the terror of the waves and her struggle to survive despite not knowing how to swim.
This incident has sparked discussions on safety protocols at sea, particularly among those who might prioritize aesthetics over life-saving measures. As the investigation continues, it serves as a grim reminder of the perils of neglecting safety for the sake of social media content.
